Shear mechanism



Sept. 14, 1937. F. o. wDswoRTl-l 2,092,855

SHEAR MECHANISM original Filed Feb. 1s, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 14, 1937. F. L. o. wADswoRTH 2,092,865

SHEAR MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 18, 1955 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 175 jj a Ell' u :i g N ///v materially, since with my rapid speed of shears,

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED srn'rl-:sl

SHEAR MECHANISM' Frank L.,. Wadsworth, Pittsburgh, P a., assigner to Ball Brothers Company, Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Original application February 18, 1933, Serial No.

657,323. Divided and this application December 14, 1933,. Serial No. 702,346. .Renewed March 2, 1936 26 Claims.

the molten glass is permitted to flow continuously from a submerged delivery orifice under the in' fiuence of gravity supplemented periodically by subjecting it to the effect of a controllable uid pressure to give a stream of alternate increased and decreased diameters, and more particularly, to improvements in the art of severing said stream of glass at the points of reduced cross section into separate lgobs or mold charges, and is a division of mycopending application Serial No. 657,323, led- February 18, 1,933.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a shearing mechanism for severing a constantly flowing stream of molten glass, which is capable of performing the severing operation without interfering with the continuity of flow of the molten material, that is to say, without checking or momentarily arresting those portions l of the glass with which the shear blades come in contact and thereby prevent the physical characteristics of the material from being altered due to chilling and stiffening of the glass at the place of severance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a high speed shearing mechanism for severing a continuously flowing stream of molten glass into mold charges which will travel with the stream during the cutting-off period, eliminate piling on the shear blades, reduce the tendency Vof the blades to heat and make it possible to increase the speed of operation of the feeder the cut-off can be performed without arresting or retarding the movement of the flow andconsquently, I avoid any chilling or attendant stiffening of the viscous material commonly encountered when the flow is arrested or retarded.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of shear mechanis`m which will sever the continuously flowing stream of glass by a combined transverse and agial movement thereof or therethrough and thereby decrease the time and the area of contact between the shear blades and the molten material.

Other purposes and advantages of my improved mode of shearing and the apparatus which I have devised for its practice will be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art by two illustrative embodiments of these improvements.

In the drawings, which form a part of this jdescription, Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through the center of the delivery orifice of the feeder; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section onnthe plane II-l-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another (partial) vertical section on the'plane III- III of Fig. 2 at right angles to' the sectional plane of Fig. l); Fig. 4 is a section on the plane IV-IV of Fig-. 4 -1 and illustrates a detail of the shear mecha# nism'; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the plane V-V of the same gure; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental longitudinal section through one of the valve ports shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a greatly-enlarged view illustrating the action of the transversely and axially moving shear blades in severing the iiowing stream of glass.

Fig. 8 is a. vertical longitudinal section through section on the double plane IX-IX-IX of Fig. 8,r Fig. 1Q is a reduced scale side view of the main frame support for the shear mechanism shown in the lower part of Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a greatly enlarged section on the plane XI-XI of Fig. '8.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive comprises a forehearth I, which extends 'out from the front of a glass `melting tank (not here shown), and which is provided, near its front end, with a submerged delivery orifice F, and a cylindrical bell shaped control member B, that is positioned above the orice and extends up through the roof of -the forehearth l. The lower end of the member B is preferably tapered, and is surrounded by an internally coned ow block 2, which is removably mounted in the oor of the forehearth,V and which is provided with the usual ring. bushing 3, that may be easily removed and replaced, independently ofthe block 2, when it is desired to change the cylindrical sleeve 4 whose lower-end is immersed in the parent body of glass in the forehearth chamber (C), and whose upper end is tightlyv seated in the roof blocks of the -said chamber, and which therefore constitutes a sealing memb er whichprevents any escape of heated gas through the roof opening that surrounds the bell.

The upper end of the control bell B is enlarged to form an outwardly coned head, which is a`djustably secured to the adjacent flanged terminal of a tubular shaftv 5, by the annular collar and cap elements l-1,' the centering and leveling screws 8 8 etc., and the clamp bolts 9-9 etc.; and this shaft member 5 is rotatably mounted in the central bearing sleeve l0 of a vertically adjustable frame i2, which is farried, by two uprights'la-l'a that are rigidly attached to the supporting framework of the forehearth I. A

large spur gear |5 is keyed and clamped to the upper lend of the shaft 5, and is engaged by a` jacent upper end of the flow block 2, together form a segregation chamber D, which is adapted to contain, and at times confine, a relatively small mass of molten glass above the delivery outlet F. The two cooperating and overlapping ends of the members, 2 and B, are each provided with a series of equally spaced rectangular notches,4 G-G-G and -g, whose combined area is several times that of the delivery orifice F, and which are successively moved into, and

out of, registry with each other (as shown respectively in Fig. 3 and Figs. 1-2) as the bell B is revolved .by the train of gearing above described.

The upper portion of the segregation chamber D is connected to a perforated cap d24, which is mounted atl the upper end of the shaft 5, byv

means of the pipe that passes up through the tubular shaft and is screwed into the base of the cap v24; and this perforated cap is surrounded by an annular coupling ring 26, which is connected, by the pipe 21, with a valve cylinder 28, carried by the frame. I2. The upper end of the tubular shaft 20 is provided with a ange 30, which is adapted to carry a detachable, and angularly adjustable, cam disc 3|, which may be formed in two parts (for convenient removal from its supporting member and which (as shown in Fig. 5) may be secured to its support by the screws 32-32, which pass through elongated annular slots in the depressed rim 3|a of the cam disc. The edge of this cam is engaged by a cam roller 33 which is rotatably mounted on a stud pin 34 that can be clamped in any desired position in the slot 35 of the arm 36. This arm is pivotally mounted on a stud bolt bearing 31, which is carried by the adjacent extremity of the frame I2; and its outer forked end is engaged with an adjustable collar 38 on the stem of a piston valve 39 which is reciprocably mounted in the cylinder 28, and is normally held in its open position (see Fig.' 5) by the spring 40. The cylinder 28 is connected with a suitable source of positive fluid pressure by a pipe 4I, that communicates with the interior of the cylinder through an elongated and tapered port opening 42 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The cylinder' 28 and the piston valve 39 are-provided respectively with an exhaust port 44 and a vent port 45, which are brought into registry when the piston valve is moved to its closed position; and one side of this reciprocating valve 39 is cut away (not shown) to always afford an open communication between its interior and the pipe connection 21, and thus open thelatter to the atmosphere when the valve 39 is moved to its closed position bringing the ports 44-`-4,5 into registry.

The operation of those parts of the feeder organization which have been described above is as follows: The rotation of the shaft 20 will revolve the shaft 5, and the attached bell B, at periodically increased and decreased speed which will alternately move the bell ports 9.,'0, y, into and out of registry with the flow block ports G, G, G;-tlie elliptic ,gearsl 2|-2I being preferably so set that this movement is slowest when the said parts are opposite each other (as shown in Fig. 3), and is most rapid when they are in the intermediate position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The valve cam 3| is so set that when the admission passageways Gg, G-g,' G-g are fully open the valve 39 will be closed, thus cutting 0E communication between the fluid pressure supply pipe 4| and the upper end of the segregation chamber D and opening the latter to the outside air. The molten glass will then ow into the interior of the bell much vmore rapidly than it can be discharged from the ow opening F, under the influence of gravity alone; and this rapid inflow will very quickly raise the level of the glass in the chamber D to that-or nearly to that-of the parent body of material in the forehearth chamber C. When the continued rotationof the bell has moved the ports g-g-g out of registry with the openings G- G-G, the cam 3| will act to move the .piston valve 39 toward its open position--or rather topermit such movement to occur under the action of the spring -'thus closing the exhaust port' 44 and opening the port 42. (either rapidly or slowly as may be desired), and the reapplication of super-atmospheric pressure to the now confined mass of glass above the delivery opening F will supplement, or complement, the action of' gravity in discharging the molten material therefrom. It 'is obvious that this acceleration of flow-and the resultant change in the form and contour of successively discharged portions ofthe flowing streammay be regulated and controlled, within wide limits, by using cams`(3I) and port openings (42) of dierent shapes;v and that l other variations, within narrowerlimits, may be made by anY angular adjustment of the cam 3| on its support' ing flange 3|), or by moving the cam roller bearing 34 in the slot 35, or by changing the setting of the valve stem collar 35, or by altering the pressure in the supply line 40.

In order to separate or cut the successively enlargedA portions of the'flowing stream into a series of mold charges of predetermined form and weight, I provide a shear mechanism, which can be adjusted to act in any desired time relationship to the movements of the feeder mechanism; and which is capable of perfomiing its intended functions without interfering with the continuity of flow of .the molten materiali.l e. without checking or momentarily arresting those portions of the glass with which the shear blades come in contact-and without altering the physical characteristics of that material (e. g. by chilling and stiffening the glass at the plane of severance).

m One form of shear mechanism which I have designed for the accomplishment of the" above enumerated objects is shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1, and is further illustratedas to certain features of construction and operationin Figs. fi and 7. This mechanism comprises a pair of shear blades 48- 49, which are preferably of the usual cats eye form, and which are respectively attached, one to the head of an elongated hollow piston member 5B, and the other to a cross bar 5| that is secured to a pair of reciprocable rods 52-52. The piston member 50 is slidably mounted in an open ended cylinder 55, whose rear head 56 is provided with radially ex- 2,092,865 tended arms 51, 51 (see Fig. 4) that are clamped to the rods 52-52; and the two mutually reciprocable piston and cylinder elements and are cooperatively supported and guided by a cylindrical sleeve member 58 that forms one of the side arms of the Y shaped frame 60. 'I'he member 58 is also provided with side lugs 59 (one of which is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1) which form guides for the-rods 52-52, and the latter are extendedwbeyond the arms 51-51 to slidably engage with suitable bearings in the left hand end of the frame 60. This frame (60) is pivotally supported on a hollow trunnion bolt B I, whose ends are tightly clamped in, and to, an opposed pair of side plates, 62-62, that are also rigidly cross connected, at two other points, by a U shaped end member 63 and a spacer tie bolt 64; and one of these side plates is adjustably secured to the vertical buckstay supports (i5-A65 of the forehearth boot I, by means of the bolts (i6-66. The pivotally supported frame 68 is provided with a piston cylinder 68, which embraces a piston plunger B9, that is connected to the tie bolt 64 by the link 10; and the frame 60 is normally held in its elevated position (as shown in Fig. l) by a compression spring 1|, which is interposed between the recessed end of the plunger 69 and the end cap of the piston cylinder 68.

` The head 56 of the cylinder 55 is provided with a tubular valve rod 12, whose outer end is slidably engaged with the valve chamber 13 that is connected to the interior of the hollow trunnion 6| by a passageway 15. The chamber 'I3 is in end communication with a somewhat larger and slightly oiset chamber which contains a reciprocable piston valve 16, that is normally held in its advanced, or closed, position by a spring 11. This valve element 18 is provided with an adjustable stem 18, which is threaded throughthe body of the valve and which projects into the path of movement of the hollow valve rod 12. The valve 'body is further provided with a peripheral groove 80 which, in the advanced (closed) position of this element, aiords an open communication between an atmospheric exhaust port 8| and a passageway 82 that leads tothe closed end of the piston cylinder 68.

'Ihe bore of the hollow trunnion bolt 6| is connected, at one end, with a pipe 85 which leads to a timer valve cylinder 86 that is in turn connected to a pressure supply pipe 81. The piston element 88 of this timer valve is normally held in closed position by the spring 89, and is moved to its open position by a cam 9|, which is adjustably secured to the lower end of the tubular drive shaft 20, and which can be so shaped and so set as to actuate the valve in any desired time relationship to -the rotary movements of the bell member B.

When it is desired to sever the iiowingstream of glass-which is preferably done during a period of natural gravity ow (when the diameter of the stream is a minimum), but which can be done at any time in the cyclic formation of the successively enlarged sections of the stream-the piston valve 88 is moved to the left to cut oi the exhaust port 98 and open communication between the pressure supply pipe 81 and the pipe 85. .This admits compressed air to the rear end of the cylinder 55 and acts to move that cylinder and its associated piston member 58 in opposite directions. These reverse movement/s will be communicated to the shear blades 58 and I9 (which are attached respectively to the head of the piston 50, and to the opposite head 56 of the cylinder 55 by the connecting rods 52-52 and the cross bar 5|), and will move these blades toward each other to sever the stream. In order to ensure symmetry of action the rods 52--52 and the adjacent sides of the piston member 50 are provided with rack bars 93-93 and 94-94 which are engaged by idle spur pinions 95-95, that are rotatably mounted in side lugs on the sleeve member 58 (see Fig. 4). As the cylinder elements 55-55 move to the left, the lower edge of the tubular valve rod 12 will be brought against the end of the piston valve stem 18 and will move the valve element l16 to the left, to rst close the exhaust port 8|, and then establish communication between the port 15 and the passageway 82. 'I'his will admit compressed air to the piston cylinder 68 and will rock the frame 60, on its trunnion support 6|; and will thereby impart to the advancing shear blades a downward movement, along the axis of the flowing stream. The initiation of this axial movement-with respect to the transverse movement of the shear bladesmay be controlled by the adjustment of the valve stem 18; and this adjustment will be preferably so made that the frame 60 will begin to move down at the time when the edges of the blades 48-49 rst engage the sides of the stream. The ratio between the speed of downward (axial) movement and of transverse (crosswise) movement o! the cutting elements, can be controlled by a proper proportioning of the diameter of the piston 59, and of the return spring 1| and also by the adjustment of the throttle valve 91 in the passage 82; and the parts are preferably so constructed and adjusted that the rst mentioned component of movement is always a little greater than the speed of ow of the glass in that portion of the stream which is being intercepted by the shear blades. Under such circumstances the relative movements of the shear blades and of those portions 'of the oncoming glass that are above the plane of severance are as indicated in Fig. '1; and no part of this downwardly flowing material can, at any time, pile up on the surface of the cutting elements, or be, in the slightest degree, checked or retarded in its normal move- The combined axial and transverse movement of the shear blades 48-49 is preferably continued for a short time after complete severance of the stream has been'eiected, for the joint purpose of moving the blades away from the tip of the severed stub of glass, and of concurrently imparting to the cut oil charge an accelerated. motion that will expedite its delivery to the receiving receptacle. 'I'he timer valve 88 is then actuated to cut off communication between thepressure supply (compressed air) pipe 81 and the pipe 85, and the latter is opened to the atmosphere (through the blades-and their actuating parts-,to be returned to their initial inactive position by a pair of tension springs 98 which are attached, at one end, to

the rods 52-52, and, at the other, to the plate 53.

These springs-like the spring 1|-also tend to lift the depressed frame to its upper level; but thisv lifting action is delayed until the shear blades have been fully retracted in the following manner: The passageway 82 is provided withfa co exhaust port tlius permitting the shear A the shear blades.

parts .5B-|02 are disengaged and the check valve |00 is then closed by the action of a spring |03. But as soon as the piston valve 'I6 is moved to admit compressed air to the outer end of the passageway 82, the check valve -I00 is automatically opened, and remains open until the timer valve 88 acts to connect the pipe 85 with the exhaust port 90, and thereby permit of the retraction of The immediate drop in pressure inthe port connection 15 then permits the check valve `'|00 to be closed by the spring |03; and it will remain closed-thus trapping the air in the cylinder 68 and preventing the lifting of the'downwardly tilted frame 60-until the valve stem head |02 has been reengaged by the cylinder head 56. When this occurs the check valve |00 is forcibly opened against the pressure of the trapped air in the cylinder; and this air is permitted to escape through the groove 80 and the exhaust port 8| of the piston valve 16. The frame 60 will then-and not until then-be lifted. by the action of the springs 'Il and 98-98, to the full line position of Fig. l.`

It is obvious that the initial "shear height-i. e. the initial plane of engagement of the shear blades with the flowing stream of glass-and the initial inclination of this plane of engagement; may, one or both, be varied and controlled bymoving one or both ends of the box frame 62-62-63 etc. up or down on the vertical posts 65-65; and that a similar adjustment may be independently effected by means Gf the stop screw |05 that is threaded .through the lower end of the cylinder 68 and is engaged by the piston 69 on the upward 'Y return movement of the frame 60.

A second illustrative embodiment of my present improvements is shown in Figs. 8 to 1l inclusive. This construction comprises a forehearth Ia which is connected, at its rear end, with a suitable glass melting tank T, and which is provided, near its front end, with a cylindrical internally coned floor block 2, and a'. cooperating ring bushing 3, that serve to define the form and size of the submerged delivery orifce F'. The movable bell B'.,

which contains the segregation chamber D', isv

mounted above the delivery orifice F', and extends up through a guard sleeve 4?- (whose form.

and function is the same asthatof the sleeve 4; Figs. 1 and 3) and the upper end of this bell is adjustably attached to the adjacent flanged extremity of a hollow shaft memberv 5al which is reciprocably and rotatably supported in a -cross head I2 that is rigidly clamped to the-tw side posts e-65a of the forehearth frame. The upper end of the shaft 5 is secured toA a two part piston IIO, which is mounted in the cylinder |I|| I I; and this portion of the tubular member is also engaged with a hollow plunger valve element I|2, that is adjustably supported in the upper head of the cylinder I'he hollow plunger I I2, is provided, at an intermediate point in its length, with lateralfport openings I I3, which open into the upper cylinder chamber; and is also provided, at its lower end, with a needle valve element. II4, which is attached to a stem ||5, that extends up through a packing box in the projecting portion of the plunger I I2, and is pivotally connectedto an actuating lever ||6. The tubular shaft 5 is also provided with a radial port I I1; and thecross head bearing member I2, has an annular groove, ||8, which communicates with the external atmosphere through a manually controlled throttle valve opening IIS, and `which is s6 positioned as to register with the port and which contains a double piston valve |24;

that serves to control the admission and exhaust of the actuating fluid to and from the upper and lower chambers of the cylinder.

The stem of this valve is connected to an actuating lever |25, which is pivotally mounted on the cylinder head III; and the levers |25 and ||6 are both operatively connected, by the adjustable link rods |26 and |21, with cams |28 and |29 on a timer shaft |30, which is in turn connected to, and driven by, the shaft |3| of a suitable variable speed motor, through a train of reduction gears (as shown in Fig. 9) or in any other suitable manner.

The bell actuating shaft ."la is also preferably provided with a large sprocket wheel I5, which is slidably connected thereto by spline and key elements, and which is rotatably mounted, and held against laxial movement, between the upper face of the cross head bearing IZB and the adjacent end` of the lower detachable head (I I Ia) of the cylinder III. This sprocket wheel (|58.) is

connected, by a chain 2|, with a smaller spreeket 22, which is secured to the vertical shaft 20, that is also driven from the motor shaft |3|, by means of the worm and worm wheel connections shown in Figs. 8,' 9, and 10.

The shear mechanisxn,which forms a part of L this second exemplary embodiment of my inventively attachedto the concentric shaft and sleeve elements, |35 and |38; and are engaged by an Y interposed bevel pinion I4| (Fig. 9), which is carried on the end of a horizontal cross shaft |42, and which may be engaged therewith, or disengaged therefrom, by means of an expansion jaw clutch member |43. The ends ofthe vertical stud pin |36 are rigidly secured in the upper and lower cross bars |45--|45, of a rectangular `lattice frame, and the horizontal shaft |42 is rotatably mounted on the central cross bar |46 thereof and this frame is rockingly supported, as a whole, by a pair of offset trunnions |41-|41, which' are attached to its end plates, and which are pivotally engaged with the vertical legsof a U shaped bracket |48 that is bolted against the vside plates of theforehearth Il (see Fig. 10).

' The shaft |42 is-connected to the motor shaft I3I, by means of a pair ofiuniversal joints and an intermediate link |50-(which permit the frame |45|46 to swing on its trunnion supports in the bracket |48, without interfering with the transmission of motion from the fixed motor. elements to the shear actuating gears |4|-|40-|39)and the lower cross bar of the member |48 is provided with a rearwardly extended shelf |5|`, which supports the bearings for one end of the timer shaft |30, and which also supports a cylinder |52 that is connected to a source of compressed air (or other fluid) by a pipe |53. This cylinder carries a piston |65, which, is 75 the central cross bar |46 of the swinging lattice frame;-the ends ofthe rod |56 being coupled to the piston and leverelements (|55-|51) by ball and socket joints so as to permit of the relative swinging movement of the connected parts in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The

outer extremity of the lever |51 is engaged by a strong tension spring |60, that tends to move the piston |55 toward the closed end of the'cylinder |52; and the other arm of the lever is coupled, in the usual manner, to the expanding jaw clutch |43.

The pivot support for the clutch lever |51 also carries a bell crank lever |6I, whose horizontal arm is connected to the adjacent portion of the lever |51 by a one way link bolt |62, and whose vertical arm terminates in an olset dog which is adapted to engage with a notched stopplate |63, that is attached to the rim of the bevel gear |39.Y A second bell crank lever |65, is pivotally mounted on a bracket extension |66, of the rocking frame member |46, and is provided with an adjustable roller |61, which is positioned in the plane of movement of the stop plate I 63, but which is normally held away from contact therewith by the tension spring |68 that is attached to the adjacent extremity of the link |62.

The cylinder |52 is provided with two check valves |10 and |1| which respectively control the inlet port through which motive fluid is admitted from the pressure supply pipe |53, and the exhaust port from which this motive iiuidl escapes to the atmosphere. The stem of the valve |10 is connected to the lever |65 by a link |12, which is coupled to the connectedparts by universal joints, which permit the relative angular movement of the swinging frame members, |45|46|66 etc., with respect to the fixed bracket members |48| 5|| 52 etc., and which also allow the lever |65 to swing freely on its support |66. The stem of the valve |1I is engaged by a cam |13, on the timer shaft |30, and this valve is normally held closed by a compression spring interposed between its head and the adjacent side of the cylinder |52 (see Fig. 9).

'I'he cycle of feeding and severing operations, which are performed by the elements of the last described construction, is essentially the same as that which is followed in the successive cooperative movements of the mechanism shown in Figs.

A1 to '1 inclusive; and may be briefly redescribed as follows: When the piston slidel valve |24 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8 (by the action of the timer cam |28), the lower end of the cylinder is open to the atmosphere and the upper end thereof is put into communication with the fluid pressure conduit |22; and the connected piston and bell members Ilo-B', are moved downward to the lower limit of their stroke-as determined by the engagement of the piston with the lower head |a of the cylinder-therebyclosing, or very greatly restricting, the passage or opening (G') from the forehearth chamber (C) to the segregation chamber (D'). As the piston moves downward it uncovers the port openings ||3, and permits the compressed motive fluid in the upper piston chamber to. enter the hollow valve plunger ||2 and pass downwardly through the tubular shaft 5a and the communicating duct in the bell B' to the chamber D'. The pressure thereby applied to the glass within the bell is controlled by the action of the needle valve I4, which is actuated by the lever-link and timer-cam elements ||6-|21-|29, and which may be so regulated (by the construction and setting of the parts ||2, |21 and |29) as to vary, at will, the initiation and termination of this applied pressure, and also vary its magnitude at any intermediate pointl in this interval of application. The continued rotation of the timer cam shaft |30 (by the motor shaft |3|) will next'move the piston valve |24 downwardly, thus closing the admission port to th' upper end of the cylinder-but not at first opening it to the atmosphereand establishing communication between the pressure supply conduit |22 andthe lower end of the cylinder AThe superior differential pressure on the lowerv and larger head of the piston member ||0 will lift the connected members ||0-5 and thus begin to enlarge the passageway G that leads to the segregation chamber D'. But at this stage of VVthe movement the air in the upper piston chamber is trapped therein, and the ports ||3 are still open; thus permitting the maintenance of any desired pressure (as controlled by the throttle valve' I4) on the glass in the'chamber D', and thereby preventing any undesired diminution or retardation of outow from the delivery orifice F', during the rst upward movement of the bell B. As the upper end of the piston ||0 passes, and closes, the ports 3 thepiston valve |24 is concurrently moved downward by an amount sufficient toopen the upper piston chamber to the atmosphere; and the port 1 in the tubular shaft 5a is, at the same time, brought into registry with the annular groove ||8 in the bearing member |211, thus allowing the conned air in thebellA chamber to escape-either quickly or slowly as may be desired-through the throttled valve opening I9. 'I'he immediate resultant diminution in the pressure within the segregation charnber D' permits the glass in the forehearth to rush through the now relatively large passage (G),'.

between the top of the flow block 2B and the lower end of the upwardly moving bell, and quickly lill the said chamber to a level substantially equal to that of the surrounding body of molten material, while still maintaining a substantial gravity discharge of glass from the submerged orifice F'.

When the piston-bell members have reached thev upper end of-their stroke-which is limited by the engagement of the piston with the upper head of the cylinder-the valve |24 is'again lifted, at the properftime, and the above described cycle of operations is repeated.

The time of initiation of both the upward and downward movements of the piston and bell a'ssembly is controlled by the contour'and adjustment of the timer cam |28, and by the rotative speed of the cam shaft |30; and the speed of these movements may be controlled, either concurrently or independently, by the. pressure in the supply line |22, orby the throttle valves |15 and |16 in the exhaust outlets from the cylinder No provision is shown for varying the range of piston bell movement, but it will be readily understood that this variation may be ea'sily eected by the use of suitable stops; and it will also be apparent that the position of the bell at the lower limit of its movement may be readily changed by moving the cylinder and cross head members (IZA-I I le) up or `down on their post supports (65a- 65a). 'I'he maintenance of a uniform temperature in the mass of glass surrounding the reciproca-- the continued rotation of this member, on its vertical axls through the motor driven connections ISL-ZIl-ZZk-Zm.

`When it is desired to sever theconstantly owing stream which issues from the delivery oriiicewhich is preferably done pressure on the glass in the 'segregation chamber D' has diminished the rate of extrusion and produced a natural necking of the outfiowing material, but which may be done at any desired time-the valve |1| is opened by the timer cam |13, and the immediate drop in pressure in the cylinder |52, will cause the check valve |10 to seat and cut off further admission of motive uid from the pipe |53. The piston will then be retracted by the spring and the concurrent movement of the lever |51 will first disengag'e the dog on the lever |8| from the notched stop. plate |63, and then engage the clutch |43 on the revolving shaft |42 'with the bevel pinion |4|. 'Ihis engagement will cause the pinion to-rotate the two bevel gear and'shaft assemblies |38|35 and |40|38, in opposite directions; and will move the attached shear blades 481\-43, from the normal inactive position, shown in Fig. 8, toward and through thefollowing stream of glass; and the latter will be severed when the blades meet and cross each other, at a relatively high velocity, beneath the delivery orifice F. The rotating parts continue their movement, and as they approach the starting point the rounded face ,of the stop plate |63 engages the roller |81 on the lever IE5- which was rocked toward the edge of the gear |33 by the closing of the check valve |10-and acts to return this lever to the full line position of Fig. 9, and thus reopenthe valve |10. The exhaust valve |1| has, in the meantime, been allowed to close, by the continued ro tation of the timer cam |13; and the reopening of the valve |10 admits motive fluid to the cylinder |52 and forces the piston |55 outwardly, thereby disconnecting the clutch |43. and permit ting the stop lever |8| to engage with the notch of the stop plate |V83;-the roller |81 being so adjusted on the lever |85 that the rotating parts are frictionally retarded (after the clutch |43 is disconnected) by a sumcient amount to'permit of their positive arrest (by .the stop elements lOl-A83) without undue shock or jar.

The severing action of this type of rotating high speed shear mechanism in so rapid that there can be very little downward flow of the glass while the cutting blades are in contact therewith; but

in order to provide for a-conjoint transverse and axial movement of the blades; "at the time of severance (see Fig. l1 supra), I cut away one side of the hub of the bevel gear |39 to form a cam |11 (see enlarged view of Fig. lll). mount a cam roller |13, on the adjacent part of the xed bracket |48, and connect the lower cross 'bar' |45 of thev swinging latticeframe, (|45--|4|'--|45) with the said bracket (|48) by means of a tension spring |80, that serves to hold the cam and roller elements |11 and |18 inpressure engagement with each other. The cam |11 is sopshaped and positioned that just prior to the engagement of the shear blades with the periphery of the flowing stream the depressed portion ofthe cam. surface begins to move under the roller |18; and

the pull of the spring |80 then acts to rock the lattice frame support for the moving parts in a countercloclrwise direction, on its trunnion bearings |41-|41; and thus communicate the desired downward, or axial movement to the revolving shear blades. The ratio between the two comwhen the relief of uid e mounted on said frame, and interconnected presponents of shear blade ,bracket support as a whole;this last mentioned meansof adjustment being easily obtained by slotting the holes for the bolts that clamp and vertical legs of the bracket against the side plates of theforehearth frame (Fig. 10).

There are various minor features of structural detaiLlwhich are clearly shown in the drawings, that have not been specifically described because they will be readily understood by those skilled in this art. The preceding disclosure will enable those familiar with the construction and operation of glass feeders to appreciate the characteristic features'of my improved mode of procedure, and to devise various other forms of apparatus for practicing this invention as defined in the accompanying chaims.

I desire it tothe understood that I have devisedvarlous shearing structures, and various shearing procedures for severing a continuously f flowing stream of moltenglass to produce well formed mold charges and in which the shear blades move downwardly with the stream and that such mechanisms and such procedures form the ksubject matter of and are claimed in copending applications for patents and structurally and Vfunctionally distinguish from the features herein ment of one such blade toward cutting position for moving said blades in a transverse direction as they move into cutting engagement.

2. A shear mechanism for severing `mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass, comprising opposed shear blades, means for movment, a mechanism for moving said blades in the direction of travel of such mass during the operation of said means, and means actuated by the `movement of one of said blades toward cutting,

position for. controlling the operation of said mechanism. i

3. A shear mechanism, comprising a pivotally mounted frame, shear blades-carried by said frame, means for moving said blades into cutting engagement, means responsive to the movement of said blades for tilting operation of said firstmentioned means, means for retracting'said blades, and means for holding said frame in tilted position until said blades `are fully retracted. l 4. A shear mechanism comprising a movable-l frame, shear blades mounted on said frame, pres sure responsive means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, and pressure responsive means controlled by said first mentioned means for moving said frame during such movement of said blades.

5. A shear mechanism for severing mold movement (transverse and axial) is, in this case, controlled by the edge ing said blades into and out of cutting engge- '50 said iframe during the 0 charges from a suspended mass of molten glass,

comprising a movable frame, opposed shear blades sure responsive means for moving said blades into cutting engagement and -for simultaneously tilting said frame.

6. A shear mechanism for. severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass, comprising opposed shear blades, means for moving said blades into cuttingvengagement one with the other, means for synchronizing the movement of said blades, means actuated by the movement of said blades toward cutting engagement for moving said blades downwardly in the direction of travel of said mass, and means operable when said blades are in lowered position for fully retracting the same.

7. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass comprising a pair of opposed shear blades, pressure responsive means for moving -said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, means for synchronizing the movement of said blades, and pressure responsive means actuated by the operation of said rst mentioned means for simultaneously moving said blades in the direction of movement of said molten glass.

8. A shear mechanism comprising a movable frame, shear blades carried by said frame, pressure responsive means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, means for retracting said blades, means for synchronizing the movement of said blades, pressure re-E -sponsive means controlled by'the operation of said first mentioned means for tilting said frame, and means forholding said frame in tilted position until said blades are fully retracted. v

9. A shear mechanism comprising pivotally mounted frame, shear blades carried by said' frame, means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, a mechanism for tilting said frame, and means operated by said rst mentioned means for controlling the operation of said frame tilting mechanism.

10. A shear mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted frame, shear blades carried by said frame, pressure responsive means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, pressure responsive means for tilting said frame, and means operated by the movementpof said rst mentioned means for controlling the delivery of pressure to said frame tilting means.

11. Ashear mechanism comprising a movable frame, shear blades carried by said frame, a movable cylinder connected to one of said blades, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to the other of said blades,'a cylinder and said frame, a movable cylinder connected to one of said blades, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to theother of said blades,` a pressure line leading to said cylinder', an intermittently operated valve in said line, a cylinder and piston assembly connected to said frame, a pressure line leading to said last mentioned cylinder, and means actuated by the movement of said blades for vcontrolling the delivery of pressure to said last mentioned cylinder.

13. A shear mechanism comprising a movable frame, a pair of shear blades carried by said frame, a movable cylinder connected to o ne of said blades, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to the other of said blades, means` for intermittently delivering pressure to said cylinder to move said blades to cutting position, means for moving said cylinder and piston to their originall position to retract said blades, mechanism for tilting said frame, means controlled by the movement of said cylinder for operating said mechanism, and means forv holding said frame in tilted position until said blades are fully retracted.

14. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass `of molten glass comprising a movable frame, shear blades coing such blades, and means responsive to the rotation of said blades for tilting said frame to move it in the direction of tra-v el of said mass duringxthe rotation of said blades. l

15. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass comprising a tiltable frame, shear blades coaxially and rotatablymounted on said frame, means for periodically rotating said blades, to move the blades across each other in cutting engagement, and means responsive to the rotation of said blades fortilting said frame to impart a4 downward movement to the blades as they cross each other in cutting engagement.

16. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass comprising coaxially mounted shear blades,

means for periodically rotating said blades to move the blades across each other'in cutting engagement, and means responsive to the rotation of said blades for moving the blades in the direction of movement of the mass as they cross each y other in cutting engagement.

17. A shear Amechanism for severing. mold A charges from a moving mass of molten glass the blades asthey cross each other in cutting en-y gagement, and means actuated by the rotation of said blades for resetting said blade locking means. e y 18. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass ofl molten glass comprising a tiltable frame, shear blades rotatably mounted on said frame, means for locking said blades against rotation, means for Inoving fsaidclocking means to release said blades. means for rotating said blades to move'the blades acrosseach other in cutting engagement, means responsive to the rotation of the blades for tilting said frame to. impart a downward movement thereto as they cross each other in cutting position, and means actuated by said blade rotating means for moving said locking means into engagement with said blades.

19. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass comprising a tiltable iframe, shear blades roconnecting sad rotating element `with said blade,

,70. tatably mounted in saidframe, mechanism for Arotating mechanism, and means responsive to the operation of said blade rotating mechanism for tilting said frame to-impart a downward movement to the blades as they cross each other in-cutting engagement. I

20. A shear mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass of molten glass comprising a pair of shear blades, means for .moving said blades into and out of cutting engagement, a mechanism for moving said blades in the direction of travel of such mass during the operation of such means, and means actuated lcomprising a movable frame, shear blades coaxially and rotatably mounted on said frame, a

mechanism for turning said blades in opposite directions to move the blades across each other in cutting engagement, av rotating element carried by said frame, means for locking said mechanism in a iixed position to prevent turning of said blades, means for moving said locking means to release said mechanism, means operable on the movement of said locking means for connecting said mechanism with said rotating element,v

means responsive to the operation of said mechanism for tilting said frame to impart a downward movement to the' blades as they cross each other in cutting engagement, and means responsive to the loperation of said mechanism for disconnecting the mechanism 'from said rotating element and for resetting said` locking means to bring the Ablades to rest at the end of one cornplete revolution.

23. A shear mechanism for severing moldA charges from a moving stream of vmolten glass comprising opposed shear blades, fluid actuated means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other and other uid actuated means 'controlled by the position of the blades for moving said blades in the direction of stream travel during the operation of said rst mentioned means.

24. A shear ,mechanism for severing mold charges from a moving mass Vof molten glass comprising opposed shear blades, means for moving said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, means actuated by the movement of said blades toward cutting engagement for moving said blades downwardly in the direction of travel of said mass, means for retracting the .blades out of the line of travel of the mass while in Atheir lowered position, and means for raisin'g said blades while so retracted.

25. A shear mechanism comprising a movable frame, shear blades carried by said frame..

fluid actuated means for moving'said blades into cutting engagement one with the other, means for retracting said blades, uid actuated means controlled by the operation of said first mentioned means fortilting said frame, and means for holding said frame in tilted position until said blades are fully retracted.

` 26. A method of forming separate charges of molten Y glass from a continuous downwardly flowing stream of molten glass, which consists in eiecting a severance of said stream by periodically subjecting such stream to they cuttingV action of opposed shear blades, while such blades are moving downwardly in the direction of stream flow, retracting such blades while holding the blades .in .their lowered position, and then returning said blades to their initial position while maintaining them in a retracted position. FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH. 

